Special Salawaat of the month of Sha'ban

Chapter 8: Social Sympathy And Cooperation

God And God’s Creatures

After requesting success for obeying God, the second request of Imam Sajjad from Allah is a social request. One thing that you can find in many Islamic teachings is that the obedience of Allah is usually followed by social services. For example in the Holy Quran, nine times we are ordered to Prayer and after six of them Allah mentions Zakat immediately.

Donation, An Investment From Allah

Donation, An Investment From Allah (Or Donation, A Saving Account Presented By Allah)

An important point when we donate anything is to remember that whatever we donate, it is like a gift to Allah and he will sustain us with His blessing. If we keep this in mind, we will never be proud and will not regret.

Sharing

To find a deeper understanding of these phrases, we need to understand that the small donations we make out of pity, is not sharing. Sharing is not the money that we give in exchange of someone’s reputation when they extend their hand. Sharing means to share all your capabilities in order to solve the problems of others.

The Measure For Recognizing A True Shia

It is important to know that sharing and social cooperation, as per our Ahadith, is termed as a measure for recognizing Shias. Imam Sadiq says,

“Examine our Shia with three things: (First) at the time of prayer how careful they are about their prayer. (Second) how they keep our secrets from our enemy. (Third) how they share their good with their brothers.”[^1]

Also Sheikh Saduq narrates from Imam Sadiq,

“If somebody has two characteristics (take him as friend) otherwise leave him and leave him and leave him” Someone asked, “What are they?” He answered, “Being careful about prayer time and sharing goods.”[^2]

Reward Of Sharing

In our Ahadith, sharing in money and donating money is counted as the minimum right of a faithful on his brothers. The companion of Imam Sadiq, Mufaddhal says, “I asked Imam Sadiq about the minimum right of faithful upon his brother. Imam replied, “He does not prefer his brother’s need for himself.”” [^3]

In a comprehensive order, the commander of faithful explains the method for dealing with different group of people.

In a testament that narrates by Imam Sadiq, "Imam Ali advises his son Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyyah. Imam says, “Force yourself to be kind and patient with people and make this as a habit for yourself. For your friend give away your life and your wealth; for your relative give your hospitality; for the public give your cordiality and your kindness; and to your enemy give your justice. However keep your religion and your reputation for yourself because it is better for this world and the hereafter.”[^4]

Also Imam Sadiq said, “One of the Prophet’s advice to Imam Ali was, “O, Ali, the best of all actions are three: 1) being just to people; 2) sharing with your brother for the sake of Allah; 3) and the remembrance of Allah at all times.”[^5]

Sharing With All People

Most of us may assume that only good people are worthy of help, and helping others in the way of their worldly needs is something in vain. Nonetheless Imam Ridha’ narrates from the Prophet that,

“The root of wisdom after being religious are being kind to people and being nice to all the people whether they are good or bad” [^6]

[^1]: قرب الاسناد ص 38

[^2]: الخصال ج 1 ص 47

[^3]: الخصال عن ابْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَدْنَى حَقِّ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَلَى أَخِيهِ قَالَ أَنْ لَا يَسْتَأْثِرَ عَلَيْهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهُ الخصال ج 1 ص 8

[^4]: الخصال ج 1 ص 147

[^5]: الخصال أَبِي عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ كَانَ فِيمَا أَوْصَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلِيّاً يَا عَلِيُّ سَيِّدُ الْأَعْمَالِ ثَلَاثُ خِصَالٍ إِنْصَافُكَ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ مُوَاسَاتُكَ الْأَخَ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ ذِكْرُكَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ الخصال ج 1 ص 125

[^6]: عیون اخبا الرضا علیه السلام/ ج 2ٍص 35